26 April 2009

Tropics or Tundra*?

I think I might have mentioned that I'm living in Costa Rica now, yes? Right. And y'all all know that Costa Rica is in the Tropics, down Central America way, right? Okay, then.

Furthermore, it don't snow in the Tropics -- except very rarely at extremely high elevations -- right? Okey-dokey.

Now, some architectural history. From the Wikipedia (but it's accurate) page about A-frame buildings: The steep slope of the A-frame roof is designed to help heavy snow to slide to the ground, instead of remaining on top of the house and weighing it down.

Why did I go bringing A-frames and snow load into this post about living in Costa Rica?

Now, I know that people in the States build A-frames at the beach and whatnot, but they just look out of place here in the tropics -- no matter how many of them there are (there's one -- albeit smaller than the two above -- just a couple blocks from here, btw)

*yes, I know that "tundra" literally means "treeless", and that doesn't apply here, but I like alliteration. Sue me. :)